FA Women's Cup

FA Women's Cup

Founded	1970
Region	England
Number of teams	259 (2014–15)
Current champions	Chelsea (1st title)
Most successful club(s)	Arsenal (13 titles)
Television broadcasters	BBC
Website	FA Women's Cup
2015–16 FA Women's Cup

The Football Association Women's Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier.

The competition began in 1970–71 as the Mitre Challenge Trophy, organised by the Women's Football Association (WFA).^[1] There were 71 entrants, including teams from Scotland and Wales.^[2]

Since The Football Association (FA) took over direct control of English women's football in 1993, the semi–professional teams affiliated with male FA Premier League and Football League counterparts have dominated the re–branded competition. Arsenal won in 2004, beating Charlton Athletic 3–0 in the final on 3 May. On 2 May 2005, Charlton made amends for the disappointment of the two previous years, by beating Everton 1–0. Arsenal regained the trophy on 1 May 2006, beating Leeds United 5–0. Wins in 2007, 2008 and 2009 gave Arsenal a record ten titles.^[3]

The FA Women's Cup often shared sponsorship with its men's equivalent (but not with the 2012 to 2014 sponsor, Budweiser). The current cup holders are Chelsea. They beat Notts County 1–0 in the final at Wembley Stadium on 1 August 2015.^[4]

The FA Women's Cup trophy was one of the first prestigious trophies to be made in the Thomas Lyte silver workshop.^[5]

Format

As with the men's tournament, clubs from higher leagues do not have to enter at the early qualifying rounds. The current entry point after the league (Women's Premier League) restructuring is.^[6]

• Entering at the Third (and last) qualifying round: FA Women's Premier League Division 2 (up to 48 teams)
• entering at Second Round Proper: FA Women's Premier League North & South Divisions (24)
• entering at Third Round Proper: FA WSL 2 (10)
• entering at Fifth Round Proper (Round of 16): FA WSL teams (8)

The other clubs are drawn to either play in the Preliminary Round or have a bye to the First Qualifying round. There are three Qualifying rounds, which are played on a geographical basis.

List of finals

The finals so far:^[7]

Year	Winners	Score	Runners up	Scorers	Venue
1971	Southampton	4–1	Stewarton Thistle	Southampton: Davies (3), Cassell	Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
1972	Southampton	3–2	Lee's Ladies	Southampton: Judd (2), Lopez	Eton Park Attendance: 1,500
1973	Southampton	2–0	Westthorn United	Kenway, Hale	Bedford Town FC Attendance: 3,000
1974	Fodens	2–1	Southampton		Bedford Town FC
1975	Southampton	4–2	Warminster		Dunstable Town FC
1976	Southampton	2–1 a.e.t.	QPR	QPR: Margaret “Paddy” McGroarty[8]	Bedford Town FC Attendance: 1,500
1977	QPR	1–0	Southampton	Staley	Champion Hill Attendance: 3,000
1978	Southampton	8–2	QPR	Southampton: Pat Chapman (6)[8]	Slough Town FC
1979	Southampton	1–0	Lowestoft		Waterlooville FC Attendance: 1,200
1980	St Helens	1–0	Preston North End
1981	Southampton	4–2	St Helens		Knowsley Road
1982	Lowestoft	2–0	Cleveland Spartans		Loftus Road
1983	Doncaster Belles	3–2	St Helens		Sincil Bank
1984	Howbury Grange	4–2	Doncaster Belles		Sincil Bank
1985	Friends of Fulham	2–0	Doncaster Belles		Craven Cottage
1986	Norwich	4–3	Doncaster Belles
1987	Doncaster Belles	2–0	St Helens		City Ground
1988	Doncaster Belles	3–1	Leasowe Pacific
1989	Leasowe Pacific	3–2	Friends of Fulham		Old Trafford Attendance: 941
1990	Doncaster Belles	1–0	Friends of Fulham	Coultard 61'	Baseball Ground Attendance: 3,000
1991	Millwall	1–0	Doncaster Belles	Baldeo 65'	Prenton Park Attendance:4,000
1992	Doncaster Belles	4–0	Red Star Southampton		Prenton Park
1993	Arsenal	3–0	Doncaster Belles	Curley 45', Ball 45', Bampton 80'	Manor Ground, Oxford Attendance: 3,547
1994	Doncaster Belles	1–0	Knowsley United	Walker 38'	Glanford Park Attendance: 1,674
1995	Arsenal	3–2	Liverpool		Prenton Park
1996	Croydon	1–1 a.e.t. (3–2 pen.)	Liverpool	Liverpool: Burke 22' Croydon: Powell 38'	The New Den Attendance: 2,110
1997	Millwall	1–0	Wembley	Waller 51'	Upton Park Attendance: 3,015
1998	Arsenal	3–2	Croydon	Arsenal: Spacey 17', Yankey 52', Few 90+3 Croydon: Broadhurst (pen) 10', Powell 55'	The New Den
1999	Arsenal	2–0	Southampton Saints	Hayes (o.g) 14', Wheatley 41'	The Valley Attendance: 6,450
2000	Croydon	2–1	Doncaster Belles	Croydon: C.Walker 40', G.Hunt 67' Doncaster: Exley 40'	Bramall Lane Attendance: 3,434
2001	Arsenal	1–0	Fulham	Banks 52'	Selhurst Park Attendance: 13,824
2002	Fulham	2–1	Doncaster Belles	Fulham: Yankey 55', Chapman 56' Doncaster: Handley 58'	Selhurst Park Attendance: 10,124
2003	Fulham	3–0	Charlton Athletic	Moore 18', Hills (o.g) 36', Williams (o.g) 61'	Selhurst Park Attendance: 10,389
2004	Arsenal	3–0	Charlton Athletic	Fleeting (3) 23', 25', 83'	Loftus Road Attendance: 12,244
2005	Charlton Athletic	1–0	Everton	Aluko 58'	Upton Park Attendance: 8,567
2006	Arsenal	5–0	Leeds United	Ward (o.g) 3', Fleeting 34', Yankey 35', Smith (pen) 73', Sanderson 77'	The New Den Attendance: 13,452
2007	Arsenal	4–1	Charlton Athletic	Charlton: Holtham 2' Arsenal: Smith 7', 80', Ludlow 15', 45'	City Ground Attendance: 24,529
2008	Arsenal	4–1	Leeds United	Arsenal: Smith 54', 83', Ludlow 58', Sanderson 60' Leeds: Clarke 68'	City Ground Attendance: 24,582
2009	Arsenal	2–1	Sunderland	Arsenal: Chapman 32', Little 90' Sunderland: McDougall 90'	Pride Park Stadium Attendance: 23,291
2010	Everton	3–2 a.e.t.	Arsenal	Arsenal: Little (pen) 43', Fleeting 54' Everton: Dowie 16', 119', White (o.g.) 45'+2'	City Ground Attendance: 17,505[9]
2011	Arsenal	2–0	Bristol Academy	Little 19', Fleeting 32'	Ricoh Arena Attendance: 13,885[10]
2012	Birmingham City	2–2 a.e.t. (3–2 pen.)	Chelsea	Birmingham City: Williams 90', Carney 111' Chelsea: Lander 69' Longhurst 101'	Ashton Gate Attendance: 8,723
2013	Arsenal	3–0	Bristol Academy	Houghton 2' Nobbs 72' White 90'	Keepmoat Stadium Attendance: 4,988
2014	Arsenal	2–0	Everton	Smith 15' Kinga 61'	Stadium MK Attendance: 15,098
2015	Chelsea	1–0	Notts County	Ji 39'	Wembley Stadium Attendance: 30,710

Performance by club

Club	Winners	Runners-up	Winning Years
Arsenal	13	1	1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14
Southampton	8	3	1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1980–81
Doncaster Belles	6	7	1982–83, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1993–94
Everton^[A]	2	3	1988–89, 2009–10
Croydon	2	1	1995–96, 1999–2000
Fulham	2	1	2001–02, 2002–03
Millwall	2	0	1990–91, 1996–97
Charlton Athletic	1	3	2004–05
St Helens	1	3	1979–80
Q.P.R.	1	2	1976–77
Friends of Fulham	1	2	1984–85
Chelsea	1	1	2014–15
Lowestoft	1	1	1981–82
Fodens	1	0	1973–74
Howbury Grange	1	0	1983–84
Norwich	1	0	1985–86
Birmingham City	1	0	2011–12
Liverpool	0	2	–
Leeds United	0	2	–
Bristol Academy	0	2	–
Stewarton & Thistle	0	1	–
Lee's Ladies	0	1	–
Westhorn United	0	1	–
Warminster	0	1	–
Preston North End	0	1	–
Cleveland Spartans	0	1	–
Red Star Southampton	0	1	–
Knowsley United	0	1	–
Wembley	0	1	–
Southampton Saints	0	1	–
Sunderland	0	1	–
Notts County	0	1	–

From 2000 until 2008, the Cup winner competed with the FA Women's Premier League National Division winners for the FA Women's Community Shield.

A. ^ Everton L.F.C. were previously known as Leasowe Pacific.^[11]

Media coverage

In the late 1980s^[12] and early 1990s^[13] television coverage of the WFA final was provided by Channel 4.

Between 2001–2008 the final of the tournament was covered by BBC TV, presented by Celina Hinchcliffe, Rebecca Lowe, Ray Stubbs and Jake Humphrey, the punditry team was usually current players like Sue Scott and commentary usually by Steve Wilson and Lucy Ward or Faye White and always played on May Day Bank Holiday. The final was also simulcast on BBC Radio Five Live. In 2009 the final was moved to ITV1 with commentary from Jon Champion and Lucy Ward. Sky Sports secured a three-year deal for live coverage from 2010 until 2012.^[14] However when the Sky Deal ended the Women's FA Cup Final returned to BBC alongside the FA Cup as people had discontent that Sky broke away from the penalties last year and only showed it on the red button. In the last 2 years coverage has been presented by Jacqui Oatley alongside Sue Smith, Faye White and Michael Grey with commentary by Jonathan Pearce and Lucy Ward.

Sponsorship

Sponsors of the original WFA competition (1970–1993) included Mitre,^[1] Pony wines and Mycil.^[13]

Below is a list of sponsors of the FA competition:

• 1995–1998: UK Living
• 1998–2002: AXA
• 2002–2006: Nationwide Building Society
• 2006–2011: E.ON^[15][16]

From 2007, Tesco obtained additional branding and advertising rights through their partnership agreement with the FA.^[17] Despite sponsorship by these major companies, entering the tournament actually costs clubs more than they get in prize money. In 2015 it was reported that even if Notts County had won the tournament outright the paltry £8,600 winnings would leave them out of pocket.^[18] The winners of the men's FA Cup in the same year received £1.8 million, with teams not even reaching the first round proper getting more than the women's winners.^[19]

See also

• International competitions in women's association football
• List of women's association football clubs

References

1. "Women's FA Cup: The history". BBC Sport. 1 May 2003. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
2. "Women's Football Competitions Fact Sheet" (PDF). Football Association. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
3. Tony Leighton (2 May 2010). "England dug-out duo become rivals in FA Women's Cup final at Nottingham". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 8 March 2011.
4. "FA Women's Cup final: Chelsea win Women's FA Cup". bbc.co.uk. 1 August 2015.
5. FA Women's Cup Final comes to Wembley in August
6. "List of FA Cup exemptions". The FA. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
7. "England – List of Women Cup Winners". RSSSF. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
8. https://womensfootballarchive.wordpress.com/tag/cambuslang-hooverettes/
9. Lavery, Glenn (3 May 2010). "Late drama as Dowie downs Arsenal – ARSENAL LFC v EVERTON LFC – 03/05/2010". TheFA.com. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
10. "Arsenal complete 11th cup final win". Shekicks.net. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
11. Leighton, Tony (3 May 2010). "Everton upset Arsenal to win Cup". BBC News.
12. "Fact Sheet 5: Women and Football". University of Leicester. March 2002. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
13. Joan Ruddock (29 April 1991). "MILLWALL LIONESSES FA CUP VICTORY". UK Parliament. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
14. "Community Shield for Sky Sports". TheFA.com. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
15. "FA announces new Cup sponsorship". BBC News. 3 February 2006. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
17. "Football Association Joins Forces With Tesco". Sportbusiness.com. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
18. BBC article on the sponsership situation
19. Prize money list on the FA website

External links

• The FA Women's Cup